Docodon
| Docodon Temporal range: Middle Jurassic–Upper Jurassic | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum: | Gnathostomata |
| (unranked): | Teleostomi |
| Superclass: | Tetrapoda |
| (unranked): | Amniota |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Docodonta |
| Family: | Docodontidae |
| Genus: | Docodon Marsh, 1881 |
| Species | |
| |
Docodon (meaning 'beam tooth') was an omnivorous mammal from the middle to upper Jurassic Period that lived in Europe and North America approximately 175.6 to 144 million years ago. Docodon likely inhabited woodland and stayed in trees out of the reach of predators.
Docodon had complex teeth, which suggest it had a diverse diet. The dentition patterns of the cusps and other molars are complex and distinct and closely resemble those of living mammals.
It was first discovered by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1880. Like other early small mammals it is known only from fossilized teeth since the rest of the body did not fossilize as efficiently. Docodon fossils are found most commonly at the 'Morrison Formation of the Black Hills' and suggest a possible habitat preference.
Its height is estimated at 10 centimeters with an approximate weight of 30 grams. A 2006 study by J. R. Foster concluded it is the most massive mammal genus of the formation.
Species
- Docodon victor
- Docodon affinis
- Docodon crassus
- Docodon straitus
- Docodon superus
- Docodon apoxys[1]
See also
References
- ↑ Guillermo W. Rougier, Amir S. Sheth, Kenneth Carpenter, Lucas Appella-Guiscafre & Brian M. Davis (2014) A New Species of Docodon (Mammaliaformes: Docodonta) from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation and a Reassessment of Selected Craniodental Characters in Basal Mammaliaforms. Journal of Mammalian Evolution (advance online publication) DOI: 10.1007/s10914-014-9263-8 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10914-014-9263-8
- Foster, J.R., K.C. Trujillo, S.K. Madsen, and J.E. Martin (2006). The Late Jurassic mammal Docodon, from the Morrison Formation of the Black Hills, Wyoming: implications for abundance and biogeography of the genus. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 36:165-169.